To expect delivery drivers to use their initiative

[OhWellThatsJustGreat]

OK I'm cranky, 6 month old didn't sleep well last night, didn't go down until 10 and then up every hour from half 2. DH has the flu, so he's been horrible to lay next to all night.
I basically haven't slept.

I know a stranger wouldn't be aware of this

Half past 8 my doorbell goes and someone knocks on the door, (I know most people's days start earlier than that) I'd just started to doze on the chair in ds room as he'd gone to sleep. I'm not expecting anyone but he knocked on the door in pretty much the same way my dad does, so I went downstairs and opened the door.

He thrust a parcel into my hands and said "can you take this for number xx" (a house that is actually 4 doors away from me) bleary eyed, semi conscious and already holding the parcel I said OK.

No please, no thanks, no sorry for waking me up...

All of the curtains were shut, no lights were on, house was clearly fast asleep still. I'm in half a mind to complain to yodel about driver initiative especially when they're not delivering to the recipient.

I wouldnt be bothered if the delivery was for me mind you...

This happens all the bloody time to me.

To be fair its a horrendous job where they usually have too many deliveries to fit in one day and the pay is crap (DB used to be a courier).

But yes very annoying.

Gig economy. Their days are horrendous. Pissing in bottles in the car. No food. Having to pay if they can't work. Being docked pay for non-deliveries. That's what the country votes for, over and over. This is one of the consequences. Suck it up, people.

He did use his initiative, he kept going till he found a house, 4 doors down ,with an occupant willing to take a parcel in.
Cheaper than redelivery for yodel.

We'd get no deliveries in the morning if they waited for curtains to be open And lights on in the front.

They knocked, you answered. If you hadn’t, he’d have assumed no one was in (or awake).

Should have said no.

I couldn't get upset about this.
What goes around comes around.
One day a neighbour will take a parcel in for you and that will be a mild inconvenience to them.

I do feel sorry for the drivers and am amazed how chipper and friendly most of them are - and really grateful how much easier online shopping makes my life, yes there are downsides, but I'm sure you use it too?

Terrible pay and conditions, working on a Saturday when a lot of people are off too... I'd cut him some slack

What do you think he should have done instead?

For the future pop a note on your door saying you do not accept parcels for neighbours. Job done.

Very annoying & a bit inconsiderate of him for sure!

But I wouldn’t complain to Yodel.

I guess some people do it for extra money/or whatever, but I assume most are doing it because they don’t have many
Options and have bills to pay.

It’s a fairly thankless job & in this weather utterly miserable I would imagine.

He was inconsiderate & impolite, but just move on. If he does it again then speak to him directly.

The driver was using his initiative. It's you that wasn't. One word: 'no'

I'm with the OP on this. Aside from previous comments, I don't see why people order things then expect random neighbours to take them in. Why can't people make sure there's someone in themselves. Fine if one mutually has a prior arrangement with a neighbour. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if alot of these early deliveries the recipients are actually in and can't be bothered. Myself, sometimes I'll take unexpected parcels in IF it's convenient for me at the time, ie, I'm up and about anyway.

You aren't clear whether it's 8.30 am or pm...but either way they are both perfectly reasonable times to knock on someone's door.

@EngagedAgain

It can sometimes depend on the driver! I have a nominated safe place that's easy to access and yet some drivers will knock at the house across the street. Mine's kinda set back in a longish garden and I think it just takes them too long.

I've also been in, seen the van and watched them go to my neighbour's rather than even attempting to bring it to my house. I usually nip out but sometimes I'm not quite quick enough. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry 8.30am, I assumed it was obvious after setting the scene of not sleeping much last night 🙄

I'm not bothered on taking the parcel. I never said that, I was more bothered that it was thrust at me and he asked if I could take it, that he didn't say please or thank me. I worked in service for 12 years! Manners cost nothing!

I've slept since I posted this and I won't complain to yodel.

Personally I wouldn't ring the doorbell on a house that has all the curtains drawn in the morning as I would assume the occupants are asleep, but when you're on a schedule I guess you don't always look at the house just the door.

The house on the otherside of the delivery address FWIW were up and about as they were washing the car, so I assume they had declined.

Don’t answer it if all you’re going to do is moan about it

@QuestionableMouse (sorry don't know how to get bold). Of course I'm not tarring everyone with the same brush, obviously you and probably alot of people have a set up which sometimes fails through no fault of your own. I know things are difficult for delivery drivers in as much having to come back it's time consuming, but random neighbours shouldn't be made to feel obligated.

Sorry, I do now - didn't realise it does automatically - great!

I do get that it can be irritating, but he did use initiative and did the only thing he really could have done short of taking the parcel back to the depot.

Be careful what you wish for when you ask that delivery drivers use their initiative. That could mean different things to different people. A few months ago one came here and I don't think they even knocked on the door. DD2 (who is 21) and I were in at the time. Instead they decided to deliver the package through the open window of our downstairs toilet. DD2 was in there at the time and it descended onto her lap. She was not impressed, though saw the funny side later on.

Fortunately that window is high up so not possible to see in from outside. I guess that driver would have thought that they were using initiative though.

Don't even get me started on those who seem to think it is a great idea to leave parcels IN the bins. Not just behind them tucked away, actually IN them. Or underneath the car on the drive. So far underneath it that I had to use a long handled broom to hook it out.